Range finder and like instrument for use on shipboard



APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13, 192i.

Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTORS.

A. BARR AND W. STROUD.

RANGE FINDER AND LIKE INSTRUMENT FOR USE ON SHlPBARD.

APPLICATION FILED oct. I3. 1921.

1,425,742. Patented Aug- 15, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' INVENTORS; W 1 40M m1, rj 40m 4m UNITED STA'iLES PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNORS T0 BARR AND LAND.

RANGE FINDER STBOUD, LIMITED, 015 ANNIESLAND. GLASGOW, SCOT- AND LIKE INSTRUMENT FOR USE ON SHIPBOARD.

Application filed To all "whom if. may concern.

Be it known that we. AROHIBALD BARB and Ninnmn Srrnooo, subjects of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and both of Caxton Street, Anniesland, Glasgow, Scotland. have invented new and useful Improvements in Range Finders and like Instruments for Use on Shipboard, of which the following is a specification.

This invention refers to supports in which provision is made for maintaining a line or surface of the support horizontal or approximately so, for use on moving structures, for example, for supporting instruments on shipboard, such as observational instruments, for example, height-finders in which the range of a target lS ltltfttitUEtl and its height ascertained by multiplying the range by the sine of the altitude of the target above the horizon.

Under conditions where divergence from the horizontal occurs about one axis only, such, for example, as when a target is exact y on the beam and the ship is rolling only, a support according to "this inventlon need only comprise means for imparting eQuIttermotions to the support by angular adjustments equal and opposite to angles through which the deck of the ship (assumed to be plane) inclines from the horizontal posit on, but in order to maintain horizontality under conditions where divergence from the horizontal occurs about two axes, such. as is due to pitching and rolling, the support, in order to be completely effective, may require to comprise means ,for imparting countermotions by angular adjustments about two horizontal axes, say, at right angles to one another.

A support accordingto this invention cornprises a stand which partakes of the movements to be counteracted, a carrier on the stand capable of angular adjustment about a. horizontal axis or about twohorizontal axes divergent to one another, say, at right angles, a horizontality indicator for indicating the horizontal appertaining to the one horizontal axis or two horizontality indicators for indicating the horizontal appertaining to the two horizontal axes, hand actuated mechanism for imparting counter motions to the carrier about the one horizontal axis, or two hand actuated mechanisms for imparting counter-motions about the two Specification oi Letters Patent. Patented Aug; 15 1922 October 13, 1921. Serial No. 5 117,473.

horizontal axes, so as to brin into conformity with the theater or both of them.

"Krone type of contruction (the horizontal ity indicator or each of them may comprise an index mark or its equivalent, and the hand actuated mechanism or each of them may comprise a pointercr its equivalent to be maintained coincident with the ndex mark'on its associated horizontalitv indicator a handle, a connection betweeh the handle andithe pointer and a connection between ,the handle and the carrier, such that in the process of keeping the pointer and index mark in coincidence the required connte r motions are imparted to the carrier, on which the instrument to be used is sup ported.

Any suitable type of horizontality indicator may beused such, for example, as those otthe long period damped pendulum, or of the vertical axis gyroscope types. 7

in some cases the horizontality indicator or both of them may be arranged to turn azimuthally with the carrier. In other cases the horizzontaliti indicator or both of them may be arranged to turn with the ship, for example, when two indicators are provided, one may be arranged to deal withthe rolling and another with the pitching of the ship. Thus, the stand may carry aagynlhal ring arrangement from which the instrument is supported and about which it is capable of azimuthal adjustment and one horizontality indicator appertaining to roll and associated hand actuated mechanism may be used in respect of connter-Inotions to be imparted to one element of the gymbal arrangement about its axis, and another indicator appertaining to pitch and associated hand actuated mechanism may be used in respect of counter motions to be imparted to the other element of the gymbal'arrangement about its axis, \Vliieh a. are normal to one another.

Some examples of construction accordin to this invention will now be described witfi reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional end view and Figure 2 is a sectional side view of a support for dealing with motions aboutone horizontal axis.

Figure 3 is a front elevation and Figure the carrier honzontality in- 4 is a plan partly in section of a support for dealing with motions about two horizontal axes at right angles to one another.

Figures 5 and 6 are views analogous to Figures 3 and 4 respectively and show a modification.

Figure 7 is a front view and Figure 8 is a side view each with portions broken away of a further modification.

In Figures 1 and 2, which illustrate a support for dealing with, say, roll only, A designates the stand which is capable of rotation about an axis perpendicular to the deck of the ship for azimuthal adjustment, and is formed with a head 1 in which a ring B, which constitutes the carrier, is mounte capable of angular adjustment about its axis, a diametrical line of which is required to be maintained horizontal.

Fixed to the ring B is a toothed sector 2, with which gears a pinion 3 carreid by and connected to turn with the shaft of a handle C. The pinion 3 also gears with a toothed sector 4, of the same pitch diameter as the sector 2. The sector 4.- is provided with an arm 5 having at its end a pointer D. Mounted on the stand A is a horizontalityindicator E, comprising an index mark F. The indicator E is intended to represent an indicator of the Mallock type. In the process of operation it is the duty of a person to so turn the handle C as to keep the pointer D opposite the index mark F, with the result that a horizontal diametrical line on the support B is thereby maintained horizontal notwithstanding the rolling of the ship. In this construction a rangefinder (l is represented as being supported in the carrier B, which for heightfinding is required to be rotated about its longitudinal axis. For this purpose the ring B is formed with a hearing to carry the shaft of a worm 6 operated by a handle 7, and the range finder is provided with a worm wheel 8 with which the worm 6 gears.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a support for dealing with rolling and pitching. In this construction the stand A, which is mounted on the ship as in Figures 1 and 2, is forked at its head, and carries a ring H by means of pivots 9 9 the pivot 9 being rigidly fixed to the ring H. Supported from the ring H by means of pivots 1O 10 is the carrier B which in this case is provided with hearings to receive the instrument G. he pivot 10 is rigidly fixed to the carrier B. To one side of the ring H is rigidly fixed a depending frame 11 and to the opposite side is rigidly fixed a weight 12 to counterbalance the load. In this case a sector 2 is fixed to and turns with the pivot 9 and mechanism comprising parts 3, C, 4:, 5. l), E and F, as in Figures 1 and 2, are mounted on the stand A, and corres onding mechanism comprising parts 3 i 4 5 D E gears 17, 18, and the and F are mounted on the frame 11, and a sector 2 is fixed to and turns with the pivot 10. Thus if one person operates handle so as to kee the pointer D opposite the index mark I and a second person operates the handle so as to keep the pointer D opposite the index mark F the carrier B Wlll be maintained horizontal or approximately so.

The construction illustrated at Figures 5 and 6 is a modification of that shown at Figures 3 and 4 in that the parts 3 C 4. 5 D E and F are mounted on the stand A, instead of on the frame 11 and the sector 2 is connected with the pivot 10 by a telescopic shaft 13 having two universal joint couplings.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a construction in which the axes of the horizontality indicators E E are fixed relatively to the ship and show an arrangement whereby the indicators and the hand operated mechanisms may be located at lower level, say, beneath the deck of the ship. The mechanism provided in this case corresponds generally with that described with reference to Figures 5 and 6, but as the stand A and carrier B are not capable of rotation about an axis perpendicular to the deck, a head B is provided in which the instrument is mounted and is arranged to rotate about the vertical axis of the'carrier B, and a connection between the axle of the sector 2 and pivot 9 is made by bevel gears 14, 15, shaft 16 and bevel connection between the axle of the sector 2 and pivot 10 is made by bevel gears 14 15 telescopic shaft 16 having two universal joint couplings one at each end, and bevel gears 17 18 In the arrangements illustrated at Figures 1, 2, Figures 3, 4, and Figures 5, 6, seats may be provided for the operators on the stand A.

It will be recognized that instead of a mark on the horizontality indicator and a pointer which can be brought into couformity therewith, other mechanical or optical devices or means may be used to indicate COIIfOI'D'IltY. Further, the mechanism shown comprising two equal toothed sectors and an intermediate pinion attached to a handle is only by way of illustration. other means "for imparting the required motions may be adopted.

We claim 1. A support comprising a stand. a carrier on the stand capable of angular adjustment about a horizontal axis. a horizontality indicator for indicating the horizontal appertaining to the said horizontal axis. and hand actuated mechanism for imparting'counteraxis so as to bring the carrier into conform ity with the horizontal ity indicator, for the purposes set forth.

2. A support comprising a stand. a carrier on the stand capable of angular adjustment about two horizontal axes divergent to one another, two hdrizontality indicators for indicating the horizontal appertaining to the two horizontal axes, and two hand actuated mechanisms for imparting counter-motions about the two horizontal axes so as to bring the carrier into conformity with the horizontality indicators. for the purposes set forth.

3. A support comprising a stand capable of rotation about an axis perpendicular o the structure on which it is mounted, a carrier on the stand capable of an ular adjustmerit about a horizontai'axis, a ori'zontality indicator for indicating the horizontal. appertaining to the said horizontal axis. and hand actuated mechanism for imparting counter-motions to the carrier about the horizontal axis so as to bring the carrier into conformity with the liorizontality indicator. for the purposes set forth.

4. A support comprising a stand capable of rotation about an axis perpendicular to the structure on which it is mounted. a carrier on the stand capable of angular adjustment about two horizontal axes divergent to one another. two horizontality indicators for indicating the horizontal appertaining to the two horizontal axes. and two hand actuated mechanisms for imparting counter-motions about the two horizontal axes so as to bring the carrier into conformity with the horizontality indicators. for the purposes set forth.

5. A support comprising a stand. a carrier mounted on the stand capable of angular adjustment about a horizontal axis. a horizontality indicator for indicating the horizontal appertaining to the said horizontal axis. an index mark on said indicator. hand actuated mechanism for imparting countermotions to the carrier about the horizontal axis. the hand actuated mechanism comprising a pointer to be maintained coincident with the said index mark. a handle. a connection between the handle and the pointer and a connection between the handle and the carrier. such that in the process of keeping the pointer and index mark in coincidence the required counter-motions are imparted to the carrier. for the purposes set forth.

6. A support comprising a stand.a carrier mounted on the stand capable of angular adjustment about two horizontal axes divergent to one another. two horizontality indicators for indicating the horizontal appertaining to the two horizontal axes. two index marks one on each horizontality indicator. two hand actuated mechanisms for impartin g counter-motions about the two horizontal axes. each hand actuated mechanism comprising a pointer to be maintained coincident with the index mark on its associated horizontality indicator. a handle. a connection between the handle and the pointer and a connection between the handle and the carrier, such that in the process of keeping the pointer and index mark in coincidence the required counter-motions are imparted to the carrier. for the purposes set forth.

7 A support comprising a stand capable of rotation about an axis perpendicular to the structure on which it is mounted. a carrier mounted on the stand capable ot angular adjustment about a horizontal axis. a horizontality indicator for indicating the horizontal appertaining to the said horizontal axis, an index mark on said indicator. hand actuated mechanism for imparting counter-motions to the carrier about the said horizontal axis comprising a pointer to be maintained coincident with the said index mark. a handle. a connection between the handleand the ointer and a connection between *the hand e and the carrier, such that in the process of keeping the pointer and index mark in coincidence the required counter-motions are imparted. to the carrier. for the purposes set forth.

8. A. support comprising a stand capable of rotation about an axis perpendicular to the structure on which it is mounted. a carrier mounted on the stand cap-able of angular adjustment about two horizontal axes divergent to one another. two horizontality indicators for indicating the horizontal appertaining to the two horizontal axes. two index marks one on each horizontality indicator. two hand actuated mechanisms for imparting counter-motions about the two horizontal axes. each hand actuated mechanism comprising a pointer to be maintained coincident with the index mark on its associated horizontality indicator. a handle. a connection between the handle and the pointer and a connection between the handle and the carrier, such that in the process of keeping the pointer and index mark in coincidence the required countermotions are imparted to the carrier. for the purposes set forth.

9. A support comprising a stand. a carrier mounted on the stand capable of angular adjustment about a horizontal axis. a horizontality indicator for indicating the hori zontal appertaining to the said horizontal axis, an index mark on said indicator. hand actuated mechanism for imparting countermotions to the carrier about the said horizontal. axis. the hand actuated mechanism comprising a pointer to be maintained coin cident with the index mark. a handle. two toothed sectors and a pinion. for the purposes set forth.

10. A support comprising a stand. a carrier mounted on the stand capable of angular adjustment about two horizontal axes divergent to one another. two horizoniality indicators for indicating the hori- :mntal appertaining to the two horizontal axes, two index marks one for each horixontality indicator, two hand actuated mechanisms for imparting counter-n'iotions about the tWo horizontal axes, each hand actuated mechanism comprising a pointer to be main-- tained coincident with the index mark on its associated horizontality indicator, a handle, two toothed sectors and a pinion, For the purposes set forth.

11. A support comprising a stand capable of rotation about an axis perpendicular to the structure on which it is mounted, a arrier mounted on the stand capable of angular adjustment about a horizontal axis, a horizontality indicator for indicating the horizontal appertaining to the said horizontal axis, an index mark on said indicator, hand actuated. mechanism for imparting counter-motions to the carrier about the said horizontal axis comprising a pointer to be maintained coincident with the said index mark. a handle, two toothed sectors and a pinion, for the purposes set forth.

12. A support comprisin a, stand capable of rotation about an axis perpendicular to the structure on which it is mounted, a carrier mounted on the stand capable of angular adjustment about tWo horizontal axes divergent to one another, two horizontality indicators for indicating the horizontal appertaining to the two horizontal uses, two index marks one on each horizontalitv indicator, two hand actuated mechanisms i'or imparting counter-motions about the two horizontal axes, each hand actuated mechanism comprising a pointer to be maintained coincident with the index mark on its 7 associated horizontality indicator, a handle, two toothed sectors and a pinion, for the purposes set forth.

ARCHIBALD BARR. WILLIAM STROUD. 

